The Unlucky Day
"He didn't pick up..."
I tried calling the number the man who had contracted with me had given me. No answer. Of course, he'd warned me it might not connect, but I'd still assumed it was just talk. I had no idea it would ring straight through ten times and drop the call immediately.
"If he's the one... he'll definitely make me stronger."
Just a few days since I'd reached the highest rank, yet the image of that man, Cheon Seong, refusing to fade from my mind. During a hallucination spell cast countless times to fight Persona while my body was paralyzed, I'd managed to land effective hits at least twice. But somehow Cheon Seong had never grazed my attacks even once, no matter how many moves I used. It was shocking, yet strangely satisfying. A man like that was the one who could make me stronger.
"Haah... I should probably go check out some swords."
The sword I'd been using had started to feel uncomfortable as my rank rose, so it seemed I'd have to completely replace it from blade length to hilt. I suited up and stepped outside.
Crash!
"Damn... broke it again."
The doorknob flew off and the door slammed shut. This was the same symptom I'd seen as an upper-rank adventurer who hadn't yet adapted to the sudden power surge of the highest rank. By today I'd already smashed ten doors. During interviews I'd broken dozens of microphones, and I'd even switched to special-alloy doors, yet it kept happening.
Eventually I called a repair service and headed for the place where I always left my swords. On the way there I spotted an unexpected person.
"Cheon Seong...?"
"Hmm? Who... ah?"
It was Cheon Seong, the man I'd just called—the one who'd contracted with me.
"What are you doing here—"
"Cheon Seong, is something wrong? Huh? Who are you?"
Just as I was about to ask what he was doing, a woman with short brown hair and sharp features approached from behind, wrapping her arms around Cheon Seong's waist.
I glanced at her and wondered who she was, but I was too busy worrying about whatever came next. Then my foot slipped and I nearly fell.
"She's not anyone I know. Probably mistook me for someone else."
Smiling, I wrapped an arm around the woman's waist and she looked at me with a slightly confused expression before taking Cheon Seong inside.
It was a department store.
"Why... is he walking in like that?"
Yet I couldn't help staring at Cheon Seong striding through the store so boldly. Going into a department store wasn't strange. Being with a woman he looked like he was with wasn't strange either.
"Why is he wearing a butler's outfit?"
I couldn't figure out why he'd left normal clothes behind and put on a butler's uniform.
.
.
.
.
I met Ryu Se-rin.
She was out with Yuna on a date when Yuna suggested buying more clothes and they ran into me at the department store. Wearing a mask and anti-recognition magic had made her look like the normal Sword Princess to everyone else. Thanks to that, Yuna stuck to me like glue and sent me clear messages of jealousy. Honestly... I loved her clingy side.
'But why is she following us?'
Of course it was annoying having the Sword Princess sneak after us like a cockroach since earlier, but I'd figured she'd give up soon. Still, an hour later she was still trailing behind. I told Yuna I'd go to the bathroom, noticed I'd been spotted, and dragged the flustered Ryu Se-rin into a corner.
"Just stop following me already?"
Even though I was way older and speaking casually, she didn't care that I was the senior and answered professionally.
"There's something I need to ask. You didn't answer your phone. Is that woman your girlfriend?"
Even as an absolute underling, she wouldn't dare bow too low to Cheon Seong, and he didn't mind her attitude either. I didn't criticize her.
She was probably just being honest, but I thought she was kind of pathetic for getting flustered the moment she was caught. I quickly answered her question about whether I had a girlfriend and told her to go away because I was calling Yuna back. Ryu Se-rin grabbed me.
"It won't take that long. You're an academy entrant, right? That's why I'm here—to make sure you get into Legna Academy."
"Haah... yeah, I am, so just—"
"Hah! You bastard!"
Getting irritated by her persistence, my voice sharpened. The moment I sensed something I frowned, swept back my hair, and moved toward the source of the aura, leaving Ryu Se-rin behind.
"Whoa... look at that guy."
"He's so handsome..."
"Maybe I should get his number? I'd be good for one of you, right?"
Some girls nearby got jealous and called me handsome, but I ignored them—useless troublemakers weren't worth the energy. I kept walking.
"Excuse me, could I have your number?"
"You really want to call me out? Get lost."
Then a blonde woman, naturally expecting me to give her number, offered her phone. I politely refused and walked over to the guy who was talking to Yuna—the same bastard who'd failed the entrance exam.
"Is there something you need with my girlfriend, Yoo Hwa-young?"
"...Yes. I wanted to make a proposal to Yuna—"
"Cheon Seong~!"
Yuna, who had been showing a bright smile and lighting up the surroundings, suddenly hugged my arm tightly. Muddle
Her huge breasts pressed against my arm and Yoo Hwa-young's face crumpled like someone had punched it. I pulled her closer in return and kissed her cherry-like lips. Around us heads turned and people stared, but I endured it. Yoo Hwa-young's jealous expression was so cute I barely held back.
Puha
"...I'm embarrassed, Cheon Seong..."
Even with everyone watching in the department store, our intense kiss left Yuna's face flushed as she hid it against my chest.
Cheon Seong found her adorable and kissed her again. Yoo Hwa-young's face twisted in fury as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"So, Yuna. My proposal... please think about it seriously."
"I already told you I'd reject it. And you still haven't left?"
Normally kind Yuna suddenly grew cold and pushed back the wall. I felt even worse for the bastard who had made her that way.
Yoo Hwa-young, ignored by Yuna, showed no emotion. He simply stared at her and said goodbye before leaving.
"Yuna. What did that guy say?"
"Ah... it's just..."
Even if I didn't know exactly what he said, it was obviously some kind of nonsense. Still, I needed to know before it hurt Yuna.
Yuna hesitated, then opened her mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come.
"Whoa! Yuna~! What are you doing here?"
"Hwa-young? What are you doing here?"
It was Yoo Hwa-young again.
"What do you mean? I just came for some shopping. But... why are you wearing that?"
Cheon Seong was seriously considering whether the universe had paired him with Yoo Hwa-young on purpose. Another meeting with her made me frown.
How did this girl know where I was going? Why did we keep running into each other?
"I don't care what you wear."
"Hah! You're really telling me that? What a nerve."
She glared at me and I glared back. Then Yuna smacked my back.
Thud!
"Why do you only hit me when you see Hwa-young?"
"Hahahaha! Look at yourself!"
Yoo Hwa-young laughed like crazy, staring at me with mocking eyes. Was I the only one getting hit?
Thud!
"Ouch! Why are you hitting me!"
"Hwa-young, stop teasing him. You only meet Cheon Seong because you're jealous, so he acts like this."
Even though Yuna had hit me harder than her, she didn't laugh. Yoo Hwa-young pouted.
"Fine, I get it. Next time I'll behave... So you two are on a date?"
"Yes. Cheon Seong is buying a few clothes while we're out."
Seeing me wrap my arm around Yuna's waist, she realized I was hugging her protectively. She glared at me and shook her head.
"Fine, enjoy your date. I'm out."
"What? You're just leaving? Who are you?"
I was shocked she was giving up so easily. Yoo Hwa-young gave me a look that said 'what does she think I am' and said,
"Hey, I have my own sense, you know. Why am I crashing a date? Just don't make Yuna cry~"
I couldn't believe my ears. This was the same Yoo Hwa-young who had no common sense at all?
"Looks like the spoiler is gone. Yuna, shall we go?"
"Yeah~"
"Oh, right. What did she say earlier?"
Thanks to Yoo Hwa-young, I could enjoy the rest of my date with Yuna without interruption. But just as I was about to start, I realized I still hadn't heard what Yoo Hwa-young had said to her.
Boom!
"Kyaaah!"
"Everyone stay still!!"
Before Yuna could even finish, explosions ripped through the area. And they were big ones.
Damn it, why is this happening to me?
Whoosh—
I cast an anti-recognition barrier and protection around Yuna and told her,
"Haah... Yuna, just wait a little."
"Be careful, Cheon Seong."
I stroked her worried head, relaxed my clenched fist, and moved forward.
Tap tap, thump thump
Walking toward the source of the sound with the anti-recognition spell active, I began to enjoy a very private thought.
'How should I make it hurt the most?'
Should I rip out the limbs one by one, or touch the nerve clusters?
I debated which method would deliver the greatest torment to the bastard who had interrupted my date with Yuna. The annoying underlings were still being followed by Ryu Se-rin, so I sent her a voice message instead.
[First order. When I give the signal, take care of all the terrorists. If anyone saw me, take them out too.]
Ryu Se-rin looked startled by the sudden message. I walked with stealth, eliminating the strongest terrorist without him noticing.
"Ugh! Who—!"
Text
Too late, the guy tried to resist, but my hand reached his body first.
Paralyze, 10 stacks
Among curse magic, debuff-type Paralyze cast ten times. The guy froze like a perfect statue.
I stacked ten times because he was an upper-rank terrorist. Upper-rank, yes, but still a rookie who couldn't control his own power. Even so, he was upper-rank.
"Gurgle!"
Above mid-rank, magic resistance made debuffs hard. Paralyze at ten stacks was needed, and since I couldn't snipe from range, I had to close in and touch him directly.
The paralyzed terrorist was dragged to the incinerator. I used teleportation to send him in, then cast Paralyze on a few more underlings and signaled Ryu Se-rin to finish them. I returned to Yuna.
"You have to run! It's dangerous here!"
"I said I don't need you! And I have to wait for Cheon Seong!"
Damn it, does that Yoo Hwa-young bastard want me to kill him? And how did he see through my barrier to talk to Yuna right now?
What exactly had he said to make Yuna scream in refusal?
Thinking it might be some new suicide method, I removed the anti-recognition spell and approached. Yuna, spotting me, shoved Yoo Hwa-young off my arm and rushed into my embrace.
It was the exact same scene as before, but this time I didn't say a word to Yoo Hwa-young. I simply walked past him, giving him a quick glance. He was the type who hid his emotions poorly, so he sent killing intent my way. I just blocked it and kept walking, enduring his rage-filled aura.
That poor bastard didn't even know the future was about to brighten for me.
He'd probably glow in a moment.
***
"Haah... what bad luck is this? Why are things always like this?"
Fwoosh
"Kyaa—!"
A short scream, then another terrorist was charred alive, barely alive.
"Even on Nuri Island it happened. What the hell do they have to do to make terrorists show up so often?"
Nuri Island had high prices and many people, yet it was constantly watched by mid-rank professionals. But a terrorist attack happened anyway.
Back then everyone had accepted it because the terrorist was Persona, and even upper-rank could barely stop her. Her disguise magic made her nearly undetectable by most heroes.
Today was different.
Even if it was another upper-rank villain, it wasn't unusual. But Persona wasn't the type to cause terrorist attacks this frequently.
The biggest reason this time wasn't Persona was that no one had seen a masked terrorist until now. Everyone moving with Persona wore masks. That fact had been clear from every previous incident, including the Nuri Island attack where a masked villain had been found dead. This one had to be someone else.
"How the hell do all these people mess up their jobs so badly?"
Not as busy as Nuri Island, but this place was still monitored by mid-ranks. How did terrorists keep getting through?
"Hey, isn't this because of that Cheon Seong guy? Ever since he showed up, terrorists pop up right after."
Same as on Nuri Island, and again today. Cheon Seong somehow always brought trouble right after he appeared.
Of course, given his personality, he wouldn't cause terrorism himself. He'd probably be with Yuna. But the timing was too perfect; it looked suspicious.
"He's not even the kind of man who causes terrorism. How do so many keep happening? Next time I really will be ready."
Yoo Hwa-young blamed Cheon Seong for the terrorist attack, subdued the remaining ones, and drank so much she was already drunk by the time I finished my sentence. Ryu Se-rin, who had failed to control her strength while handling the cleanup, let out a sigh.
.
.
.
.
.
Although I hadn't finished my time, the terrorist situation made it impossible to do anything. Yuna and I finished our date and headed home.
Back at home, Cheon Seong faced Beatrice approaching him and apologized.
"Beatrice, this time it's my turn, but I'm really sorry. I'll take care of it quickly. It's just some business... can you wait a little longer?"
[I don't know what it is... but... okay.]
Even though she agreed, the disappointment in Beatrice's eyes doubled my guilt. The anger at stealing her time grew as well. I used teleportation to my incinerator.
The incinerator was dark, smelled musty, and damp. Devices with unknown functions filled the place like a torture chamber.
Tap tap
Now I could hear the owner of the incinerator running toward me.
Bang!
"Hey! What the hell is that?! Why are you sending dangerous things to my lab?! I almost had a heart attack!"
"Long time no see. Imir."
"Don't act friendly!"
The incinerator was actually Imir's laboratory.
"Nothing special. Just a gift."
"What the hell, man?! Who sends an upper-rank as a gift?!"
Of course, I hadn't warned him at all before turning this place into an incinerator, but receiving this gift only made me feel a little sour.
"What do you think? He's a villain. A terrorist. You needed experimental subjects for the stuff you're developing, right?"
"I know, damn it, but every time you come you cause trouble! The mithril you gave me last time—thinking about what you broke, that's hundreds of times the loss!"
Why was he getting so heated? Was it because I'd destroyed a bit of the lab last time? I casually mentioned something I knew he'd want.
"I'll bring double the mithril next time."
"Really? Then it's fine. By the way, what help do you need this time?"
Seeing Imir bow when I offered more mithril, I guessed he was short on materials for whatever he was making now.
"Nothing major today. You and I, let's do one job together."
"One job? Tsk... that's a bit much. Can you at least tell me what it is?"
Imir asked what it was. Of course he did. No matter how crazy he was about money, asking me for help was always difficult for him.
The fact that I was even hesitating proved I had given him valuable things and shown my strength. If my power was weak, I would have refused outright. So I pointed at the gift I had brought and answered.
"Making recycling products."
Even garbage has some use.
The villain, who had been listening to Cheon Seong's conversation with his body locked, sensed the future and broke into a cold sweat.
